Tuesday, July 17, 2012

United Nations in India


The United Nations in India is led by the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr. Patrice Coeur-Bizot, who is the designated representative of the UN Secretary General and leader of the UN Country Team.   The UN Country Team, which consists of Heads of UN Agencies, steers the work of the UN within India.  The Resident Coordinator mechanism focuses on Joint Programmes, Teams (security, disaster, operations, AHI), Advocacy with national and provincial elected representatives, UNDAF common programming, planning and monitoring, resource mobilization, HACT and popularizing and localizing MDGs.
The UN in India has harmonized the UNDAF with national goals as articulated in the 11th Five-year Plan of the Government of India to facilitate ‘inclusive growth’.   Accordingly, the UNDAF India 2008-2012 focuses on delivering results to the excluded groups, especially women and girls, and was approved by the Planning Commission, Government of India in February 2007.
The following is a brief note on individual UN entity’s priority areas in India. 
APCTT: The APCTT works on technology transfer services, technology capacity-building, promotion and management of innovation as well as sub-regional and regional networking.
ESCAP: UNESCAP is the regional development arm of the UN and serves as the main economic and social development centre for the UN in Asia and the Pacific. The mandate of UNESCAP is to foster cooperation between its 53 members and nine associate members. In December 2011, ESCAP set up its sub-regional office for South and South West Asia (SRO-SSWA) in New Delhi, launched with a high-level policy dialogue on development challenges facing the sub-region. The SRO-SSWA strives to facilitate regional economic cooperation and the sharing of development experiences in support of MDG achievement with a focus on least developed countries within the sub-region. It serves 10 countries in the sub-region, namely: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Turkey.
FAO: FAO focuses on technical assistance in facilitating multi-lateral cooperatio0n to reduce the risk to food security and economic growth, offering support to the national government in strengthening the implementation of national missions and programmes aimed at reducing poverty and piloting innovative approaches and piloting innovative approaches with governments, NGOs and private sector in agricultural and rural development. 
IFAD: IFAD’s focus is on providing access to improved livelihood opportunities for tribal communities in semi-arid areas, microfinance services, and use of new technologies for agriculture to help reduce poverty.
IFC:   IFC has doubled its budget in the area of its main focus- infrastructure- to $600 million.  Areas of work are natural gas, wind power, port services, and developing PPP in infrastructure sector.
ILO: The overarching goal of ILO work is Decent Work (DW), i.e., promoting opportunities for all women and men to obtain decent and productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity. ILO’s Programme has been finalized jointly with its partners – Government, employers and workers.
IMF: The focus of IMF's work is to facilitate the flow of information between the Government of India, the Reserve Bank of India and the IMF and train officials from RBI, national and state governments.
UNAIDS: The UNAIDS in India coordinates technical support with all development partners for implementation of  the third five-year phase of the National AIDS Control Programme. It also generates strategic information to track and monitor the epidemic.
UNODC: UNODC activities in India focus on drug abuse awareness, preventing transmission of HIV, precursor chemical control, human trafficking and in new areas such as prison reforms, migrants and anti corruption.
UNDP:  UNDP works to support Government at all levels and communities in villages and towns on inclusive governance, livelihoods promotion, stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS. In areas prone to natural disasters, UNDP helps further efforts aimed at building the resilience of communities at risk. UNDP is committed to help India achieve MDGs as well as the national objectives articulated in consecutive Five-Year Plans.
UNESCO: UNESCO’s work in India focuses on capacity building in the areas of education, natural, social and human sciences, heritage sites, culture and strengthening communication and information capacities
UNIC: The UNIC was the first United Nations office to be established in India and also covers Bhutan.  UNIC's work includes informing media, governments, NGOs, academia and general public about the work of the United Nations. 
UNFPA: UNFPA works within the SWAP on the Reproductive and Child Health programme (RCH II) within the rubric of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) till 2010.  UNFPA, in addition, provides support for addressing pre-natal sex selection and gender based violence, improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health, promoting safe sexual behaviour, mainstreaming RH and gender in disaster response, and promoting population and development strategies.
UNHCR: The UNHCR protects and assists some 11,500 refugees in India.   While India is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its Protocol of 1967, it has been a member of UNHCR’s Executive Committee in Geneva since 1996. 
UNICEF: The India Country Programme is UNICEF’s largest country programme of cooperation. The overall goal of the Country Programme is to advance the fulfillment of the rights of all women and children in India to survival, development, participation and protection by reducing social inequalities based on gender, caste, ethnicity or region.
UNIDO: The UNIDO’s Regional Office for South Asia acts to mobilize knowledge, information, skills and technology to promote competitive industry, productive employment and sound environment.
UN Women: Advancement of women’s rights being the centre of all its efforts, UN Women focuses its activities on three strategic areas: i) Enhancing women’s economic security and rights; ii)  Reducing prevalence of violence against women and HIV/AIDS  iii) Advancing gender justice in democratic governance and iv) capacity building of women elected representatives.
UNMOGIP: The UNMOGIP observes developments pertaining to the adherence of the cease-fire of December 1971 and report these to the Secretary-General. Based in both India and Pakistan, UNMOGIP has field stations , Liaison Office in New Delhi (India) administrative and Logistics HQ in Rawalpindi (Pakistan), and Operational HQ (alternates six-Monthly between Rawalpindi (Pakistan) and Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir).
UNOPS: UNOPS’ India Procurement Office (IPO) has been operating from New Delhi since September 2007.  It operates, currently, as a procurement agent for Government of India, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
WB: The World Bank’s Country Strategy for 2009-2012 focuses on helping the country to fast- track the development of much needed infrastructure and to support the seven poorest states achieve higher standards of living. 
WFP: The World Food Programme’s Country Programme (2008-12) has three major components I) capacity development to improve the performance of food based schemes ii) Improving nutritional status of women and children through fortification initiatives and support to the ICDS and iii) )Improving food security by creating assets and reducing vulnerability through food for work projects.
WHO: In India, WHO provides technical assistance and collaborates with the Government of India and major stakeholders in health development efforts. It assists notably in Policy Development; Capacity Building and Advocacy. The four main strategic objectives of WHO in India are:  (i)  reduce the burden of communicable and emerging diseases;  (ii) promote maternal and child health;  (iii) scale up prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) ; and  (iv) strengthen health systems development within the national and global environment, with a focus on human resources.
UNCTAD: UNCTAD assists Indian policy makers (the Ministry of Commerce, area focus ministries like textiles, small scale industry, women and child development and local governments) and other stakeholders (industry, civil society) in understanding the developmental dimension of key trade issues, as they relate to negotiations in the WTO and other trading arrangements.
UN HABITAT: The Programme focuses on: i) Pro-poor Urban Water Governance, ii) Urban Water Demand Management, iii) Integrated Urban Environmental Sanitation, and iv) Creation of income generation opportunities for the urban poor by involving them in the management and delivery of community-based water and sanitation services.
UN Millennium Campaign: The UNMC works in close collaboration with the UNRC mechanism for promoting MDGs, especially focusing on civil society initiatives.
ITC, Geneva: International Trade Centre, Geneva has operations in India and works as a Non Resident Agency.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Prime Ministers of India

Name Tenure Party
Dr. Manmohan Singh May 22, 2004 - till date INC
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee March 19, 1998 - May 22, 2004 Bharatiya Janata Party
Shri Inder Kumar Gujral April 21, 1997 - March 19, 1998 Janata Dal
Shri H. D. Deve Gowda June 1, 1996 - April 21, 1997 Janata Dal
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee May 16, 1996 - June 1, 1996 Bharatiya Janata Party
Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao June 21, 1991- May 16, 1996 Congress (I)
Shri Chandra Shekhar November 10, 1990 - June 21, 1991 Janata Dal (S)
Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh December 2, 1989 - November 10, 1990 Janata Dal
Shri Rajiv Gandhi October 31, 1984 - December 2, 1989 Congress (I)
Mrs. Indira Gandhi January 14, 1980 - October 31, 1984 Congress (I)
Shri Charan Singh July 28, 1979 - January 14, 1980 Janata Party
Shri Morarji Desai March 24, 1977 - July 28, 1979 Janata Party
Mrs. Indira Gandhi January 24, 1966 - March 24, 1977 Congress
Shri Gulzari Lal Nanda January 11, 1966 - January 24, 1966 Congress
Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri June 9, 1964 - January 11, 1966 Congress
Shri Gulzari Lal Nanda May 27, 1964 - June 9, 1964 Congress
Shri Jawaharlal Nehru August 15, 1947 - May 27, 1964 Congress

Friday, July 13, 2012

World Heritage Sites

World Heritage Sites are extremely exceptional cultural and natural properties nominated voluntarily by signatory nations, which have been approved for inclusion in the List by the World Heritage Committee.

In 1972, worldwide concern over the potential destruction of the Earth’s cultural and natural heritage led the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to establish an international treaty called the Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. More commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it aims to identify, celebrate and protect the Earth’s irreplaceable natural and cultural heritage, and to ensure it is conserved for all people, for all time.

For the purposes of the World Heritage Convention, the following are considered as "cultural heritage":

a) Monuments: architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations of features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;
b) Groups of buildings: groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;
c) Sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and of man, and areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological points of view.

For the purposes of the World Heritage Convention, the following are considered as "natural heritage":

a) Natural features consisting of physical and biological formations or groups of such formations, which are of outstanding universal value from the aesthetic or scientific point of view;
b) Geological and physiographical formations and precisely delineated areas which constitute the habitat of threatened species of animals and plants of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation;
c) Natural sites or precisely delineated natural areas of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty.

Benefits

A key benefit of ratification, particularly for developing countries, is access to the World Heritage Fund. Annually, about US$4 million is made available to assist States Parties in identifying, preserving and promoting World Heritage sites. Emergency assistance may also be made available for urgent action to repair damage caused by human-made or natural disasters. In the case of sites included on the List of World Heritage in Danger, the attention and the funds of both the national and the international community are focused on the conservation needs of these particularly threatened sites.

Sites inscribed on the World Heritage List also benefit from the elaboration and implementation of a comprehensive management plan that sets out adequate preservation measures and monitoring mechanisms. In support of these, experts offer technical training to the local site management team.

Finally, the inscription of a site on the World Heritage List brings an increase in public awareness of the site and of its outstanding values, thus also increasing the tourist activities at the site.

The Convention sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage sites situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage. The States Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programmes, set up staff and services at their sites, undertake scientific and technical conservation research and adopt measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the community.

The Convention stipulates the obligation of States Parties to report regularly to the World Heritage Committee on the state of conservation of their World Heritage properties. These reports are crucial to the work of the Committee as they enable it to assess the conditions of the sites, decide on specific programme needs and resolve recurrent problems. It also encourages States Parties to strengthen the appreciation of the public for World Heritage properties and to enhance their protection through educational and information programmes.

Western Ghats has been declared as World Heritage

A cluster of sites from the Western Ghats in peninsular India has been inscribed in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. The clusters of sites are in the landscapes of Agasthyamalai, Periyar, Anamalai, Nilgiris, and Upper Cauvery in Kodagu, Kudremukh, and Sahyadri. These constitute the thirty nine sites in seven sub-clusters of the Western Ghats, identified and proposed as a potential UNESCO World Natural Heritage Cluster Site, in 2006.  The proposal was made by the Ministry of Environment and Forests based on expert inputs from ATREE, Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun.

The Western Ghats are a biological hotspot harbouring 60 Important Bird Areas (IBA), 325 globally threatened species, many endemic species and sacred groves, across six states (Gujarat, Maharashtra,  Goa,  Karnataka,  Tamil Nadu and Kerala).

The area of 150,000 km2 boasts a varied ecosystem with a historical Gondwanaland origin and significant global value. The Ghats can lay claim to a unique landform and biodiversity; however they are also under threat of increased developmental pressure from energy needs. Coffee, tea and rubber plantations too have grown over the years, leaving the area with less undisturbed space.

Under the title of a Natural Heritage Site, it is expected that areas of the Western Ghats pronounced World Natural Heritage sites will be able to restrict some development, allowing these areas to be better conserved.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

list of Presidents of India


 
S.No. Name Took Office Left Office Political Party
 1 Rajendra Prasad 26 Jan 1950 13 May 1962 Indian National Congress
 2 Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan 13 May 1962 13 May 1967 Independent
 3 Zakir Hussain 13 May 1967 3 May 1969 Independent
  Varahagiri Venkata Giri* 3 May 1969 20 July 1969 Independent
  Muhammad Hidayatullah 20 July 1969 24 Aug 1969 Independent
 4 Varahagiri Venkata Giri 24 Aug 1969 24 Aug 1974 Independent
 5 Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed 24 Aug 1974 11 Feb 1977 Indian National Congress
  Basappa Danappa Jatti* 11 Feb 1977 25 July 1977 Independent
 6 Neelam Sanjiva Reddy 25 July 1977 25 July 1982 Janata Party
 7 Giani Jail Singh 25 July 1982 25 July 1987 Indian National Congress
 8 Ramaswamy Venkataraman 25 July 1987 25 July 1992 Indian National Congress
 9 Shankar Dayal Sharma 25 July 1992 25 July 1997 Indian National Congress
 10 Kocheril Raman Narayanan 25 July 1997 25 July 2002 Independent
 11 A.P.J. Abdul Kalam 25 July 2002 25 July 2007 Independent
 12 Pratibha Patil  25 July 2007 Incumbant Indian National Congress
* denotes Acting Presidents

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Battles And Wars In India

Battle of Hydaspes 326 B.C.—Alexander the Great, defeated Porus, the Paurava king. Impressed by the valour of Porus, ultimately Alexander returned his kingdom to him.

Battle of Kalinga 261 B.C.—Ashoka defeated the king of Kalinga. Ashoka embraced Buddhism and preached it during the rest of his life after this war.

First Battle of Tarain or Thaneswar A.D. 1191  Prithvi Raj Chauhan defeated Mohammed Ghori. Second Battle of Tarain A.D. 1192—Mohammed Ghori defeated Prithvi Raj Chauhan. Ghori’s victory paved the way for the establishment of Muslim rule in India.

First Battle of Panipat 1526—Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodhi. This laid the foundation of the Mughal rule in India.

Battle of Khanwah 1527— Babar defeated Rana Sanga of Mewar. This battle resulted in the defeat of the powerful Rajput confederacy.

Second Battle of Panipat 1556—Bairam Khan (Akbar’s General) defeated Hemu (the Hindu General and right-hand man of Mohd. Adil Shah). It also ended the Afghan Rule and Mughal Rule began instead.

Battle of Talikota 1564- 65—United alliance between Bijapur, Bidar, Ahmednagar and Golkonda under Hussain Nizam Shah defeated Ram Raja of Vijayanagar. It destroyed the Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar.

Battle of Haldighati 1576—Akbar’s forces headed by Raja Man Singh defeated Rana Pratap, the brave Rajput king. Though defeated, Rana Pratap refused to accept Mughal authority and carried on warfare till his death.

Battle of Plassey 1757— The English under Lord Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah.It brought Muslim Rule in Bengal to an end and laid foundations of the British Rule in India.

Battle of Wandiwash 1760—The English defeated the French. The battle sealed the fate of the French in India and paved the way for English rule in India.

Third Battle of Panipat 1761—Ahmed Shah Abdali defeated Marathas. It gave a terrible blow to the Maratha power. It made the field clear for the English.

Battle of Buxar 1764— Fought in 1764 between the forces of the English and the combined forces of Mir Qasim, Shuja-ud-Daulah (Nawab of Oudh) and the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam. The English victory at Buxar finally riveted the shackles of the Company’s rule upon Bengal.

First Mysore War (1767- 68)—In 1768, Haider Ali was defeated by the English relinquishing all his rights over Mysore in favour of the English.

Second Mysore War 1780— A grand alliance between Haider Ali, the Nizam and the Marathas was formed and Haider Ali. He defeated the English and took possession of Arcot and became the undisputed master of the Carnatic.

Third Mysore War 1790- 92—Fought between the English and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had to submit and was compelled to sign the Treaty of Seringapattam stripped him of half his territory.

Fourth Mysore War 1799— The British forces under Arthur Wellesley defeated Tipu Sultan, which brought the end of the Tipu Sultan. Maratha War 1803-05—It weakened the Maratha power. The English annexed Tanjore, Surat and Carnatic.

Fourth Maratha War 1817- 18—The British forces defeated Marathas and this campaign finally extinguished the Maratha Empire.

Battle of Cheelianwala 1849—Forces of the East India Company under Lord Hugh Gough defeated the Sikhs under Sher Singh.

Burmese War 1885—As a result of this War, the whole of Burma was occupied by the English and made a part of India.

Afghan War III 1919—As a result of this War, Treaty of Rawalpindi was signed by which Afghanistan was recognised as an independent State.

lndo-Pak War 1965—This was Pakistan’s second attack on India. While India had the upper hand, the fighting was brought to a stop by a call for ceasefire issued by the Security Council. Later on, Tashkent accord was signed between the two nations. lndo-

Pak War Dec 1971— Pakistan started the war attacking India on Dec 3. India defeated Pakistan on all fronts. Pakistani occupation forces, numbering about one lakh, in East Bengal (Bangladesh) surrendered. Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Famous Cities and River Banks

City Country River
Adelaide Australia Torrens
Amsterdam Netherlands Amsel
Alexandria Egypt Nile
Ankara Turkey Kazil
Allahabad India At the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna
Agra India Yamuna
Ayodhya India Saryu
Ahmedabad India Sabarmati
Badrinath India Alaknanda
Bareilly India Ram Ganga
Bangkok Thailand Chao Praya
Basra Iraq Euphrates and Tigris
Baghdad Iraq Tigris
Berlin Germany Spree
Bonn Germany Rhine
Budapest Hungary Daunbe
Bristol U. K. Avon
Buenos Aires Argentina Laplata
Cuttack India Mahanadi
Curnool India Tungabhadra
Chittagong Bangladesh Majyani
Canton China Si-Kiang
Cairo Egypt Nile
Chung King China Yang-tse-King
Cologne Germany Rhine
Delhi India Yamuna
Dandzing Germany Vistula
Dresden Germany Elve
Dibrugarh India Brahmaputra
Dublin Ireland Liffy
Ferozpur India Satluj
Guwahati India Brahmaputra
Hardwar India Ganga
Hyderabad India Musi
Hamburg Germany Elve
Jabalpur India Narmada
Jamshedpur India Swarnarekha
Jaunpur India Gomti
Kabul Afghanistan Kabul
Karachi Pakistan Indus
Kanpur India Ganga
Kota India Chambal
Kolkata India Hooghly
Khartoum Sudan Confluence of Blue and white Nile
Lahore Pakistan Ravi
Leningrad Russia Neva
Lucknow India Gomti
Lisbon Portugal Tagus
Liverpool England Messey
Ludhiana India Satluj
London England Thames
Mathura India Yamuna
Moscow Russia Moskva
Montreal Canada St. Lawrence
Nanking China Yang-tse-Kiang
New Orleans U.S.A. Mississippi
Nasik India Godavari
New York U.S.A. Hudson
Ottawa Canada Ottawa
Patna India Ganga
Paris France Seine
Philadelphia U.S.A. Delaware
Perth Australia Swan
Panjim India Mandavi
Prague Czech Republic Vitava
Quebec Canada St. Lawrence
Rome Italy Tiber
Rotterdam The Netherlands New Mass
Stalingrad Russia Volga
Shanghai China Yang-tse-Kiang
Sidney Australia Darling
Srinagar India Jhelum
Surat India Tapti
Sambalpur India Mahanadi
Serirangapatam India Cauvery
Saint Luis U.S.A. Mississippi
Tiruchurapalli India Cauvery
Tokyo Japan Arakava
Ujjain India Kshipra
Vijayvada India Krishna
Varanasi India Ganga
Vienna Australia Danube
Warsaw Poland Vistula
Washington D.C. U.S.A. Potomac
Yangoon Myanmar Irrawaddy

Saturday, June 16, 2012

GENERAL AWARENESS MCQs

1. Kabir Puraskar is awarded for:
a) Hindi literature b) Promotion of Communal harmony
c) For contribution in culture development  d) None of the above

2. India’s first food bank has been established at:
a) Mumbai         b) Chennai
c) New Delhi d) Kolkata

3. Which among these islands in a bone of contention between U.K. & Argentina?
a) Spratly Island b) Shetland Island
c) Falkland Island d) Turks & Caicos Island

4. In which State the newly inaugurated Dhamra Port is situated?
a) Andhra Pradesh b) Maharashtra
c) Orissa         d) Goa

5. Kerala has the highest sex ratio according to the latest figures released by Census for 2001-2011. What is the sex ratio for that State?
a) 1099 b) 1091
c) 1084 d) None of the above
6. Which of the following countries has recently donated 1 million US dollars for construction of a library in Nalanda International University (NIU) to highlight the art and architecture? The fund will help in strengthening the relations between the two countries.
a) Thailand b) South Korea
c) Japan d) China

7. The U.S. has launched “Climate and clean Air condition”- a global initiative to combat climate change. Which of the following is the only Asian country to be part of this initiative?
a) India         b) Myanmar
c) Bangladesh d) Philippines

8. Which of the following countries has started imposing 'fat tax'?
a) Netherland b) Sweden
c) Serbia         d) Denmark

9. Recently the Union Cabinet of India has approved the reconstruction and repair of houses for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons in which country?
a) Myanmar  b) Bangladesh
c) Afghanistan d) Sri Lanka

10. Name the new President of France:
a) Lucas Papademos b) Nicolas Sarkozy
c) George Kirtos         d) François Hollande
11. Which of the following Gulf country has granted Voting rights to woman recently?
(a) Bahrain (b) Saudi Arabia
(c) Yemen (d) Qatar

12. Recently Amazon has launched its new wet browser for its new kindle Tablet. The same of the browser is–
(a) SILK         (b) SWIFT
(c) CORONA (d) QUICK

13. The Tagore University for the Liberal Arts, is the first institution to be established under the Human Resource Development Ministry as a University for Innovation Programme. The said university will be set up at–
(a) Kolkata         (b) Pune
(c) Bangalore (d) Guwahati

14. Who among the following has been awarded with International Jurists Award-2012 for the support to the development of the legal fraternity in the world?
(a) Mulayam Singh Yadav (b) Ram Jethamalani
(c) G.E Vahanvati                 (d) Sharad Yadav

15. There is an ongoing judicial inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press following the News International phone hacking scandal. Who among the following is head of the judicial panel?
(a) Brian Henry Leveson (b) Duncan Larcombe
(c) Sir David Bell         (d) Shami Chakrabarti
16. Which of the Pacific islands moved from east to west of the international date line on December 29, thereby skipping December 30, in order to align their time zone better with their main trading partner?
a) Samoa & Tokelau b) Samoa & Kiribati
c) Kiribati & Comoros d) Comoros & Tuvalu

17. The Boko Haram, islamist militant group is engaged in conflict with the government of which of the following countries?
a) South Sudan b) Ethiopia 
c) Nigeria d) Sierra Leon

18. Which of the following is the longest train service in India?
a) Himsagar Express b) Vivek Express
c) Dibrugarh-Chennai Express d) Trivandrum Rajdhani

19. Russia has set up world's first international atomic fuel bank as part of a global effort to curb the spread of nuclear arms to nations like North Korea and Iran. It has been established at:
a) Moscow         b) Angarsk
c) Omsk d) Irkutsk

20. "The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of cancer", won Pulitzer Prize for general non-fiction. The author of the book is-
a) Paul Theroux b) Siddhartha Mukherjee
c) Zareer Masani         d) Arvinda Adiga
21. NTR National Literary Award 2012 has been won by:
a) S. L Bhyrappa               b)  K Sachidanandan
c) Ashokamitran                d) A Soma Sundaram

22. Andhra Pradesh has set up its first Biosphere Reserve recently. What is the name of that?
a) Simlipal                                       b) Seshachalam 
c) Kasu Brahmananda Reddy               d) Mahavir Harina Vanasthali 

23. What is LAHAT?
a) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle          b) Surface to surface missile
c) Torpedo                               d) Anti Tank Guided missile

24. 38th G-8 Summit held at:
a) Camp David, Maryland                 b) Chicago
c) L'Aquila,Abruzzo                         d) Huntsville, Ontario

25. Which one of the following is not the latest district set up in Uttar Pradesh?
a) Prabuddhanagar                 b) Panchsheel Nagar 
c) Bhimnagar                         d) Sant Ravidas Nagar

Friday, June 8, 2012

The top 10 causes of death

Low-income countries Deaths in millions % of deaths
Lower respiratory infections 1.05 11.3%
Diarrhoeal diseases 0.76 8.2%
HIV/AIDS 0.72 7.8%
Ischaemic heart disease 0.57 6.1%
Malaria 0.48 5.2%
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease 0.45 4.9%
Tuberculosis 0.40 4.3%
Prematurity and low birth weight 0.30 3.2%
Birth asphyxia and birth trauma 0.27 2.9%
Neonatal infections 0.24 2.6%

Middle-income countries Deaths in millions % of deaths
Ischaemic heart disease 5.27 13.7%
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease 4.91 12.8%
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2.79 7.2%
Lower respiratory infections 2.07 5.4%
Diarrhoeal diseases 1.68 4.4%
HIV/AIDS 1.03 2.7%
Road traffic accidents 0.94 2.4%
Tuberculosis 0.93 2.4%
Diabetes mellitus 0.87 2.3%
Hypertensive heart disease 0.83 2.2%

High-income countries Deaths in millions % of deaths
Ischaemic heart disease 1.42 15.6%
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease 0.79 8.7%
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers 0.54 5.9%
Alzheimer and other dementias 0.37 4.1%
Lower respiratory infections 0.35 3.8%
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 0.32 3.5%
Colon and rectum cancers 0.30 3.3%
Diabetes mellitus 0.24 2.6%
Hypertensive heart disease 0.21 2.3%
Breast cancer 0.17 1.9%

World Deaths in millions % of deaths
Ischaemic heart disease 7.25 12.8%
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease 6.15 10.8%
Lower respiratory infections 3.46 6.1%
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 3.28 5.8%
Diarrhoeal diseases 2.46 4.3%
HIV/AIDS 1.78 3.1%
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers 1.39 2.4%
Tuberculosis 1.34 2.4%
Diabetes mellitus 1.26 2.2%
Road traffic accidents 1.21 2.1%

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. Match the locations of ports labelled as A, B, C and D in the given map with the names of those ports and select the correct answer using the codes given below the name of the ports:
g1 300x296 Download General Knowledge Practice Paper For NDA CDS
Name of Ports:
1. Kakinada
2. Karwar
3. Mangalore
4; Tuticorin
5. Veraval
Code:
A B C D
(1) 4 2 3 5
(2) 5 2 4 1
(3) 1 3 4 2
(4) 5 3 2 1
Ans. (2)
2. Match List-I (Distinguished Ladies) with List-II (Position/Area of Work) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List-I                                                         List-II
(Distinguished Ladies) (Position/Area of Work)
A. Aruna Roy                           1. Chairperson, Central Social Welfare Board
B. Poornima Advani                2. Chairperson, National Dairy Development Board
C. Amrita Patel                        3. Community Development
D. Mridula Sinha                     4. Chairperson, National Commission for Women
Code:
A B C D
(1) 3 4 2 1
(2) 2 1 3 4
(3) 3 1 2 4
(4) 2 4 3 1
Ans. (1)
3. The given map refers to the kingdom of:
g3 300x250 Download General Knowledge Practice Paper For NDA CDS
(1) Akbar at the time of capture of Khandesh in 1601
(2) Akbar at the time of his death in 1605
(3) Aurangzeb at the time of capture of Hyderabad
(4) Aurangzeb at the time of his death In 1707
Ans. (1)
4. Match List-I (Vitamins) with List-II (Disease caused by their Deficiency) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the List:
List-I (Vitamins)                         List-II (Diseases their Deficiency)
A. Vitamin A                                             1. Night blindness
B. Vitamin B1 2. Scurvy
C. Vitamin C                                             3. Beriberi
D. Vitamin D                                             4. Rickets
Code:
A B C D
(1) 2 3 1 4
(2) 1 4 2 3
(3) 2 4 1 3
(4) 1 3 2 4
Ans. (4)
5. Reserve Bank of India is a:
(1) Commercial Bank
(2) Central Bank
(3) Co-operative Bank
(4) Lead Bank
Ans. (2)
6. Ozone layer in the upper atmosphere blocks —
(1) heat rays from the Sun
(2) ultraviolet rays from the Sun
(3) cosmic rays from the space
(4) infrared rays from the Sun
Ans. (2)
7. Paraffin is a by-product of:
(1) petroleum refining
(2) processing of agricultural wastes
(3) cottage industry involving bee-keeping.
(4) leather Industry
Ans. (1)
8. Select the correct sequence in the decreasing order of carbon content:
(1) Pig iron—Cast iron—Mild steel
(2) Mild steel—Pit iron—Cast
(3) Pig iron—Mild steel—Cast iron
(4) Mild steel—Cast iron—Pig iron
Ans. (1)
9 The term Mach Number is used in connection with the speed of —
(1) ships
(2) light
(3) sound
(4) aero planes
Ans. (4)
10. Mahe which is situated on the Malabar coast on the Western Ghats is apart of:
(1) Kerala
(2) Maharashtra
(3) Pondicherry
(4) Tamil Nadu
Ans. (3)
11. Which of the following help human body fight against infection?
(1) Enzymes
(2) White blood cells
(3) Red, blood cells
(4) None of these
Ans. (2)
12. The situation with Increasing unemployment and inflation is termed as —
(1) hyperinflation
(2) galloping inflation
(3) stagflation
(4) reflation
Ans. (2)
13 The basic attribute of a formal organization is
(1) Esteem and prestige
(2) Roles and duties
(3) Dominance and supremacy
(4) Rules and regulations
Ans. (4)
14. Match List-I (Person) with List-II (Area in which Distinguished) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List-I (Person)                          List-II (Area in which Distinguished)
A. Rajendera Shah                            1. Film industry
B. Naresh Trehan                             2. Computer industry
C. Azim Premji                                3. Automobile industry
D. Jagdish Khattar                           4. Medical science
5. Literature
Codes:
A B C D
(1) 2 3 1 4
(2) 5 4 2 3
(3) 2 4 1 3
(4) 5 3 2 4
Ans. (2)
Directions: The following eight (8) items consist of two statements: one labelled as the Assertion (A) and the other Reason (R). You are to examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these items using the codes given below:
Code:
(1) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(2) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(3) A is true but R is false
(4) A is false but R is true
15. Assertion (A): If two bodies of equal weight—one cylindrical and another conical are floating in water, then their depths of immersion shall be equal.
Reason (R): Weight of the liquid displaced by a floating body is equal to weight of the body.
Ans. (4)
16. Assertion (A): If a domestic refrigerator with its door open is kept running in a room, then it shall be cooling the room like an air-conditioner does.
Reason (R): Energy can be converted from one form to another.
Ans. (4)
17. Assertion (A): If market rate of interest falls, then the prices shall rise.
Reason (R): Price rise is a result of increase in the demand.
Ans. (1)
18. Assertion (A): Alkalis are frequently used for cleaning utensils and clothes in households.
Reason (R): Alkalis readily dissolve in water.
Ans. (2)
19. Assertion (A): Equatorial Belt is a zone of calm.
Reason (R): There is almost no horizontal movement of air in the Equatorial Belt.
Ans. (1)
20. Assertion (A): In nature, compounds of carbon abound both in numbers and variety than those of any other known element.
Reason (R): Unlike other elements, carbon is an amphoteric element with ability, both for lending and for accepting electrons, while the metals are only lenders and non-metals are acceptors.
Ans. (1)
21. Assertion (A): Infants are given triple antigen injection.
Reason (R): It immunizes them against diphtheria, tetanus, and polio.
Ans. (2)
22. Assertion (A): When a ship moves from the sea water into freshwater of a river the ship will sink further.
Reason (R): The density of sea water is less than that of freshwater.
Ans. (3)
23. Which one of the following is not a Defense Public Sector Undertaking?
(1) Bharat Dynamics Limited
(2) Mishra Dhatu Nigam Limited
(3) Bharat Earth Moves Limited
(4) Hindustan Shipyard Limited
Ans. (4)
24. Match List-I (Defense Training Institute) with List-II (Location) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List-I                                                                           List-II
(Defense Training Institute)                                                      (Location)
A. Army School of Physical Training                                1. Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow)
B. College of Defense Management                                   2. Secunderabad
C. Naval college of Engineering                                         3. Pune
D. Military College of Telecommunication Engineering   4. Lonavala
5. Dehradun
Code:
A B C D
(1) 3 1 4 2
(2) 5 2 3 1
(3) 3 2 4 1
(4) 5 1 3 2
Ans. (3)
25. In the decreasing order of the length of the rivers, the correct sequence is
(1) Brahmaputra—Ganga— Godavari—Narmada
(2) Ganga — Godavari — Brahmaputra—Narmada
(3) Brahmaputra—Narmada— Godavari—Ganga
(4) Ganga—Brahmaputra— Godavari – Narmada
Ans. (1)
26. The Tropic of Cancer passes through:
(1) India and Iran
(2) Iran and Pakistan
(3) India and Saudi Arabia
(4) Iran and Iraq
Ans. (3)
27. Consider the following statements:
1. The Constituent Assembly started functioning in December 1946
2. Jawaharlal Nehru was the Chairman of the Constituent Assembly.
3. The Constituent Assembly adopted the constitution of India on 26th November.1949
Which of these statements is/are correct?
(1) 1, 2, and 3
(2) 1 and 3
(3) 3 only
(4) l only
Ans. (2)
28. Which of the following Indian cricketers was/were never appointed as captain of the Indian test cricket team?
1. S. Venkatarhavan
2. K. Srikanth
3. Mohinder Amarnath
4. Syed Kirmani
Select the correct answer using$ the codes given below:
Code:
(1) 1 and 3
(2) 4 only
(3) 3 and 4
(4) 2 only
Ans. (4)
29. Consider the following statements:
1. The constitution (42nd Amendment) Act was enacted during the emergency.
2. The amendments under this Act restricted the jurisdiction of the supreme Court and the High Courts.
Which of these statements is/are correct’?
(1) l only
(2) 2 only
(3) Both land 2
(4) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans. (3)
30. Recommendations to the President on the specified Union -State fiscal relations are made by the -
(1) Finance Minister
(2) Reserve Bank of India
(3) Finance Commission
(4) Planning Commission
Ans. (3)
31. Which one of the following instruments is used in a submarine to get the view above the surface of water?
(1) Periscope
(2) Telescope
(3) Digital camera
(4) Kaleidoscope
Ans. (1)
32. Match List-I (National Park/ Sanctuary) with List-II (State) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List-I (National Park /Sanctuary)                              List-II (State)
A. Nandadevi National Park                                           1. Rajasthan
B. Keoladeo National Park                                             2. Assam
C. Manas Wildlife Sanctuary                                         3. Gujarat
D. Sasan Gir National Park                                            4. Mizoram
5. Uttaranchal
Code:
A B C D
(1) 2 3 4 1
(2) 5 1 2 3
(3) 2 1 4 3
(4) 5 3 2 1
Ans. (2)
33. Consider the following statements regarding the Chakiarkoothu form of dance:
1. It is performed by Chakiar caste.
2. It cannot be traditionally witnessed by the higher caster Hindus.
3. Mizhavu is the accompanying instrument.
4. Its theatre form is Called koothambalam.
Which of these statements are correct?
(1) 1, 2 and 4
(2) 1, 2 and 3
(3) 2, 3 and 4
(4) 1. 2 and 4
Ans. (2)
Directions : The following 10 (ten) items consist of two statements; one labelled as the ‘Assertion A’ and the other as ‘Reason R’. You are to examine these two statements carefully and decide if the Assertion ‘A’ and the Reason ‘R’ are individually true and if so, whether the Reason is a correct explanation of the Assertion. Select your answer to these items using the codes given:
Codes:
(1) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(2) Both A and R are true but R is hot a correct explanation of A
(3) A is’ true but R is false
(4) A is false but R is true
34. Assertion (A): In Australia, Cattle rearing is done more for meat than for milk.
Reason (R): Australians are traditionally non-vegetarians.
Ans. (2)
35. Assertion (A): In human beings. the females play a major role in determining the sex of the offspring.
Reason (R): Women have two ‘X’ chromosomes
Ans. (4)
36. Assertion (A): Large cold storage plants use ammonia as refrigerant while domestic refrigerators use Chloro-Fluoro -Carbons.
Reason (R): Ammonia can be liquefied at ambient temperatures at low pressures.
Ans. (2)
37. Assertion (A): The frequency of floods is North Indian plains has increased during the last couple of decades.
Reason (R): There has been reduction in the depth of river valleys due to deposition of silt.
Ans. (1)
38. Assertion (A): The rate of growth of India’s exports has shown an appreciable increase after 1991.
Reason (R): The Government of India has resorted to devaluation.
Ans. (3)
39. Assertion (A): Lord Linlithgow described the August Movement of 1942 as the most serious rebellion since Sopoy Mutiny.
Reason. (R): There was massive upsurge of the peasantry in certain areas.
Ans. (2)
40 Assertion (A): “D N A Finger Printing has become a powerful tool to establish paternity and identity of criminals in rape and assault cases.
Reason (R): Trace evidences such as hairs, saliva and dried semen are adequate for D.N.A. analysis.
Ans. (2)
41. Assertion (A): Punjab is an important exporter of rice.
Reason (R): This state leads in the production of rice.
Ans. (1)
42. Assertion (A): Kushinagar was the capital of Malla Republic.
Reason (R): Mahatma Buddha got Mahaparinirvana at Kushinagar.
Ans. (2)
43. Assertion (A): Terrace cultivation In Garhwal is eco-friendly.
Reason (R): It ensures land and water conservation on the hill sides.
Ans. (1)
44. Match List-I (Industrial processes) with List-II (Industry with which associated) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I                                            List-II
A. Cracking                                     1. Rubber
B. Smelting                                      2. Petroleum
C. Hydrogenation                             3. Copper
D. Vulcanization                              4. Edible Fats
Codes:
A B C D
(1) 3 2 1 4
(2) 2 3 4 1
(3) 2 3 1 4
(4) 3 2 4 1
Ans. (2)
45. The Indian National Army (I.N.A) came into existence in 1943 in:
(1) Japan
(2) Then Burma
(3) Singapore
(4) Then Malaya
Ans. (3)
46. Which one among .the following has the largest shipyard in India?
(1) Kolkata
(2) Kochi
(3) Mumbai
(4) Visakhapatnam
Ans. (2)
47. At the time of partition of India, which one of the following provinces of British India came forward with a plan for United and Independent existence?
(1) Punjab
(2) Assam
(3) Bengal
(4) Bihar
Ans. (1)
48. What is Digital Safe?
(1) A new scheme launched by Punjab National Bank
(2) This is a safe suit by ‘Ozone Company’
(3) This is new spacecraft suit by NASA
(4) None of these
Ans. (2)
49. Expand ISLFTA:
(1) Indo Srilanka Free trade Agreement
(2) Indo Singapore Free Trade Agreement
(3) Indo Srilanka Free Tariff Agreement
(4) None of these
Ans. (1)
50. Who among the following are appointed by the President of India?
1. The Chairman of Finance Commission
2. The Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission
3. The Chief Minister of a Union Territory
Choose the answer from the codes given below:
(1) 1 only
(2) 1 and 2
(3) l and 3
(4) 1 and 3
Ans. (1)

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Indian Information Technology and IT enabled serives (ITES-BOP) continue to chart remarkable growth. The Indian software and services export is estimated at Rs. 103200 crore (US $23.4 billion) in 2005-06, as compared to Rs. 80180 crore (US$ 17.7 billion) in 2004-05, an increase of 32 per cent in dollar terms.

The ITES – BPO
 sector has become the biggest employment generator amongst young college graduates with the number of jobs almost doubling each year. The no. of professinals employed in India by IT and ITES sectors is estimated at 1287000 as of March 2006.

National Plan on e-governance
The national Common Minimum programme adopted by the government accords high priority to improving the quality of basic governance and in that contest has proposed to promote e-governance on a massive scale in areas of concern to the common. A national egovernance plan has accordingly been drawn up covering 25 mission mode projects and of support components to be implemented at the Central, State and Local Government Levels.

MAJOR INITIATIVES IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECTOR
For realizing IT objectives, Data Connectivity and Services Delivering Access points need to be established all over the country, including the remotest areas. The Government is establishing State Wide Area Networks (SWANs) at a total outlay of Rs. 3,334 crore. These SWANs will extend data connectivity of 2 Mega bits per second upto the block level in State or Union Territory in the country. The block level nodes in turn, will have a provision to extend connectivity further to the village level using contemporary wireless technology. The government is also formulating a proposal to establish 100,000 common service centers that would extend the reach of electronic services, both government and private to the village level. Under the scheme, proposals from 26 states/UTs have already been sanctioned.

PC penetration- The department of Information technology has identified increase of PC penetration and internet utilization/coverage in the country; and growth of domestic software market as the thrust area for action during next 2-3 years. The department has set up six committees on low cost PC manufacturing; Education; e-Govenance, IT for Rural and Social sectors, Multilingual software Application and Contests; Internet penetration; and Telemedicine to prepare action plan in the respective sectors.

.IN Domain Name – In order to bring about a substantially increased proliferation of .IN Internet domain name, a new .IN Internet domain name policy was announced by the government in October 2004. It aims at adopting a liberal and market friendly approach to register large number of IN domain names. The policy has received wide acceptance country wide. The .IN inernet domain name registration has crossed 3,50,000 during December 2007.

Migration of IPV6 from Ipv4 : Internet protocol version 6 (Ipv6) is the next generation protocol of Internet to which migration is to take place from the currently used Internet Protocol version 4 (Ipv4). Ipv6 is essentially an upgrade to the data networking protocol that powers the internet. Keeping in view the global trends in Ipv6, the department of Information Technology took the initiative towards Ipv6 transition and National Roadmap for Ipv6 implementation.

Indian Language Technology – The benefits of information technology can reach the common man in India only when the digitised information is available in all Indian Languages. To enable wide proliferation of ICT in Indian languages, tools, products and resources should be freely available to the general public. The hindi software tools and fonts were released in June 2005.

OCEAN DEVELOPMENT

With the ratification of the UN Convention on Law of the Sea, a new international order has been established for the oceans. India is represented in almost all the important bodies on oceans. The oceanographic programmes have national, regional and global importance. The Department is the nodal agency for several international programmes in the ocean sector and represents the country in Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO, Regional Committee of IOC in Coastal Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO), International Sea-Bed Authority (ISBA) and the State Parties of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) and its scientific and managerial organs - Commission on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programme (COMNAP), Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), etc.
In a significant development the minstry of ocean development has been recently named as the ministry of Earth sciences. The Ministry of Earth Sciences is in charge of matters relating to Ocean Science and Technology, Meteorology, Seismology, Climate and Environmental Sciences and related Earth Sciences. 
The Department of Ocean Development was created in July 1981 to serve as a nodal Department for organising, coordinating and promoting ocean development activities in the country, in line with the Ocean Policy Statement. The programmes of the Department are directed towards : (1) Technology Development Programmes for future applications with strategic, industrial and economic significance; (2) Societal Programmes with direct/ indirect benefit for the community by technology applications and pilot project demonstration with the participation of the community for their socio-economic prosperity, and for coastal area development. (3) Marine Resources Programmes for exploration of marine living and non-living resources, techno- economic studies to evolve strategies for sustainable exploration and utilistion, and resource enhancement. (4) Multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary Polar Science Progammes and Antarctic Expeditions with scientific and geopolitical significance; (5) Capacity Building Programme towards self-reliance through basic scientific research in ocean sector, human resource development and establishing Centres of Excellence in academic institutions and (6) Creation of public awareness of ocean, its potential and uses. 
Marine Research and Capacity Building is one of the key programme areas of the Department to promote basic research in marine science and establish centres of excellence in academic institution and of self reliance. 

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Solicitor General of India (past and present)

Solicitor General Term
C.K.Daphtary 28.01.1950 – 01.03.1963
H.N. Sanyal 02.03.1963 – 09.09.1964
S.V. Gupta 10.09.1964 – 16.09.1967
Niren De 30.09.1967 – 30.10.1968
Jagadish Swarup 05.06.1969 – 04.06.1972
L.N. Sinha 17.07.1972 – 05.04.1977
S.N. Kacker 05.04.1977 – 02.08.1979
Soli Sorabjee 09.08.1979 – 25.01.1980
K. Parasaran 06.03.1980 – 08.08.1983
Milon K. Banerji 04.04.1986 – 03.04.1989
Ashok Desai 18.12.1989 – 02.12.1990
A.D. Giri 04.12.1990 – 01.12.1991
Dipankar P. Gupta 09.04.1992 – 10.04.1997
T.R.Andhyarujina 11.04.1997 – 04.04.1998
Nitte Santhosh Hegde 10.04.1998 – 07.01.1999
Harish Salve 01.11.1999 - 03.11.2002
Kirit N Raval 04.11.2002 - 19.04.2004
G. E. Vahanvati 20.04.2004 - 07.06.2009
Gopal Subramaniam 15.06.2009 - 14.7.2011
Rohinton Nariman 23.7.2011 -